Special Diet - DDP - now what?

[Mouseturtle]

I am traveling with 4 Princesses and at the time I booked the trip, it was all about the food so we booked the Deluxe dining Plan. Well, now I am following a special meal plan and cannot eat all the yummy stuff I want, so I am wondering if I can change just ME to not have the dining plan and pay OOP for my meals? (going to be eating a lot of plain grilled chicken breasts and would not be worth it to be on the DDP) - we booked a package - is it possible to have the package for 5 people but only 4 people be on the DDP? or does everyone have to be on the same plan?

 

[sharonabe]

Everyone has to be on the same plan.

 

[LoriABil]

I thought if you were booked in separate rooms, you could have different dining or ticket packages, but I may be mistaken. If this is the case, everyone in the room would have to agree to changing the plan.

You should be able to find something within your meal plan. I'm not sure what you are doing, but I know most restaurants will give you a salad as an appetizer, even if it's not on the appetizer portion of the menu ( my DH is a picky eater!). Now desserts are a different story, but there are sugar free desserts to chose from at any location

Of course, this is all conjecture, because I'm not sure what your special needs are, but Disney is quite accommodating! Good luck!

 

[clanmcculloch]

You might be surprised at just what kinds of options you'll have with a special diet. Just what kind of dietary restrictions do you have? You might actually be able to enjoy a lot more interesting options that repeated plain chicken the whole trip.

Everybody in the same room has to have the same dining plan. Sorry. There are no exceptions to this, even for people who are tube fed and can't eat by mouth.

 

[dawnball]

Can't you still add non-package adults at check-in time? You'd have to not be the only adult (because the package needs a lead adult), but my understanding was that you could be left off the package, then added to the room-only part at check-in.

You wouldn't be eligible for Magical express (or any other package perks/discounts), so it's unclear if it would be a cost-effective answer for you.

I'd also think about how it will work (and how everyone will feel) if most of your group is eating three extravagant meals every day, and you're sitting and watching. I've had a few sudden changes to highly-restrictive medical diets, and it's usually most comfortable for both my family and I if we just switch to less-food-centric things for awhile.

 

[TDC Nala]

You cannot add all the adults at check-in time because you can't have only minors on a reservation. There must be at least one adult registered and that adult must get DDP.

If you add at least one adult at check-in, they will not have DDP. They will also not have access to DME from the airport if they need it - unless they arrive after they are added to the reservation.

If you are registered with the group on the package, you must get the same DDP. There are no exceptions for special diets. If you notify the restaurants they will accommodate you as best they can.

Since it is only a month before your trip, you may be subject to change fees if you are removed from the package at this point.

 

[dawnball]

If you add at least one adult at check-in, they will not have DDP. They will also not have access to DME from the airport if they need it - unless they arrive after they are added to the reservation.

Oh, I didn't know that would work! My parents had a package reservation that started the night before my sister's package started (2 people in each room). We'd been considering adding her for that night, but didn't think she could get DME at all.

It didn't work out for other reasons, but it's good to know that it may be possible to use DME in that situation after all.

 

[merina888]

Call Disney Dining (someone has the number here, I'm sure) and tell them that you have dietary restrictions and possibly what they are. It can be noted on your reservations. Most TS places will be able to accommodate you. I bet many QS will too if you let them know. Food issues are nothing new to Disney, but you have to tell them to make it work for you.

 

[TDC Nala]

Oh, I didn't know that would work! My parents had a package reservation that started the night before my sister's package started (2 people in each room). We'd been considering adding her for that night, but didn't think she could get DME at all.

It didn't work out for other reasons, but it's good to know that it may be possible to use DME in that situation after all.

add her after you check in, then call DME directly (or have her do it) with her flight information. I plan to do this in December when I am staying in a friend's DVC villa, they're getting the deluxe dining plan and I don't want it, so they are going to add me after they check in and I'll call DME with my flight info. They arrive two days before I do.